YASED Members Get Together with the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology at the “Digital Transformation” Workshop

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officials from YASED member corporations met with the Ministry of Science,
Industry and Technology to exchange ideas on what needs to be done as part of
Turkey’s “Digital Transformation” process, focusing on current best efforts.

International
Investors Association YASED and the Ministry of Science, Industry and
Technology met on January 17, 2018 in Istanbul at the “Digital Transformation” workshop.

The meeting
was held under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Science, Industry and
Technology Dr. Hasan Ali Çelik, and widely attended by YASED members; topics
discussed were the opportunities presented by information and communication
technologies for the business world, the “Digital Transformation” process in
Turkey, and areas of potential improvement.

During her
talk at the meeting, YASED Vice President Canan Özsoy spoke as follows: “We place
great importance on the process of digital transformation, as part of our
nation’s efforts to reach its developmental goals while retaining a global competitive
edge. YASED contributes to these efforts in multiple ways; as a founding member
of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology’s coordination committee it
joins the platforms formed through the committee, as well as other relevant
projects, where the experience of its members -both in Turkey and globally- can
make a difference. It is estimated that by 2025, the total market brought on by
the industrial internet will be twice the size of the current consumer
internet. This is a great opportunity for our entrepreneurs… Projects that are
implemented in Turkey can be implemented on a global basis. However, during
this process, it is important that the company understand it cannot solve every
issue on its own and reach out to solution partners and global links… At this
juncture, the role of international investors in creating these global links is
highly critical.”

Özsoy listed as
primary areas of improvement: the inclusion of Digital Transformation projects
in the category of works that receive incentives, the strengthening of
infrastructure to support the integration with the digital world and the
availability of incentives to entrepreneurs.

During the
meeting, Deputy Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Dr. Hasan Ali
Çelik spoke of the efforts in the public sector related to Digital
Transformation and said: “2018 will be the year of Turkey’s technological
breakthrough. As a nation, we must break the vicious cycle of medium and low
technology. Our focus is wholly on progression in the field of industry
centered around science and technology, because we understand that enrichment
and the creation of added value in this day and age is only possible through
technology.” He also added that this breakthrough is easier accomplished by
easing the entry of international direct investment into the nation.

Following the
opening speech, several managers took the stage who spoke of best efforts in
Turkey as well as suggestions for improvement: GE Turkey General Manager and CEO Canan Özsoy; Bosch Turkey IoT and Industry
4.0 Coordinator Mustafa Ayhan; Yapı Kredi Bank Assistant General Manager of Information
Technologies and Operations Cahit Erdoğan and Assistant General Manager of
Alternative Delivery Channels Yakup Doğan; Ford Otosan Chief Digital Manager
Hayriye Karadeniz; and Siemens Turkey Head of Country IT Yusuf Tokmakçı.

At the end of
the workshop, an online survey was held to evaluate the state of international companies
operating in Turkey in the field of digital transformation, as well as their
needs. Talks were then held to identify priorities.